


-^ ,e 




^^?0 CROSBY'S ^i^ 



I^abor Odes. 





\ 



PO CROSBY'S 



LABOR ODES 



CONTAINING 



3^ 



Twenty-five Beautiful Odes 



COMPOSED IN THE I>fTEEEST OF THE 



TOILING MASSES. 



K^ 



Pf R. CROSBY, 

Verne, Saginaw County, Mich. 



3 d -e ci 



Price^ 10 Cents, 



THIRD EDITION. 






Copies of this book can be had by address- 
ing with 10 cents per single copy, or $1.00 

per dozen, to 

Po Crosby, 

Verne, Saginaw Co., Mich. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by 

P. R. Crosby, in the Office of the Librarian of 

Congress, at Wa'^hington, D. C. 



EAST SAGINAW, MICH. 
Evening News Printing and BiNDiNa Horraa. 



PREFACE 



O ! toiler true, when'er ye view 
The lines I thus present to yop. 
Think kindly of the flaws ye see. 
In Terses I devote to thee. 

For in my brain I've striven hard, 
That these poor lines from labor's bard 
Should cast one little ray of light 
On labor's dark and stormy night, 

Oh ! 't would be sweet if I could know, 
When thither I am called to go, 
That when I die, I leave behind 
One thought to lighten labor's mind. 



Po Cbobbt. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Opening Ode. 

TUNE— AMERICA. 

Once more we meet to clasp 
In friendship's hallowed grasp 

The hand of man. 
Oh may our cause sublime 
Throughout the length of time 
In this our native clime 

For ever stand. 

Patrons, stand by your cause 
Obeying honor's laws, 

Move hand in hand. 
No rich monopolis great 
Nor foreign syndicate 
Shall guide the Ship of State 

Of this fair land. 

Brave sons and daughters fair 
By truth and virtue heir 

To honor's name. 
Stand by your colors pure 
And may your strength endure 
Keward though slow is sure 

In this high game. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Hand in Hand. 

TTJNE— KKD, WHITE AKD BLUE. 

Like the first rays of light in the morning, 
Like the first wild flowers of the spring, 
Sweet visions of hope now are dawning 
While anthems of liberty ring. 
The ark of a nation's devotion, 
The day star of freedom so grand, 
Like earth's mighty armies in motion, 
Toil unions shall move hand in hand. 
Toil unions shall move hand in hand, 
Toil unions shall move hand in hand, 
Like earth's mighty armies in motion. 
Toil unions shall move hand in hand. 

Let us scorn every petty dissension. 
The bright star of truth keep in view, 
Dishonor the tongue that would mention 
A word that could discord imbue, 
And moving in unison ever 
By honor and liberty stand, 
The ballot box— almighty lever 
Still grasping we'll move hand in hand. 
Still grasping we'll move hand in hand. 
Still grasping we'll move hand in hand, 
The ballot box almighty lever 
Still grasping we'll move hand in hand. 

It is not at the point of the sabre 

That we purpose to better our cause. 

But by voting for such men as labor 

To make for the laborer laws. 

Then patrons and all labor orders 

Through the length and the breadth of our lan^ 

From the gulf to the far northern borders. 

Let's labor and vote hand in hand. 
Let's labor and vote hand in hand, 
Let's labor and vote hand in hand, 
I'rom the gulf to the far northern borders, 
Let's labor and vote hand in hand. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 7 

Strike for the Right. 

TUNE— PULL FOE THE SHORE, 

Bright sliijies the labor banner 

Over the brave, 
Loudly the glad hozannah 

Peels o'er the wave. 
While labor's flag ship proudly 

Glides o'er the sea, 
Choirs of justice singing loudly 

Odes to the free. 

Chorus. 

Strike for the right patron, strike for the right, 
•Strike at monopoly with sword ever bright; 
Under the labor banner, walk in the light, 
"With the arm of truth and honor, strike for the 

right. 

Seaman with task allotted 

Work mid the sail, 
Cannon with ballots shotted 

Point o'er the rail. 
While on the shore is marching 

Armed for the fight. 
Millions who with sword of truth 

Will strike for the right. 

Chorus, 

Now ruthless politicians 

Throughout the land. 
Haste from your false positions; 

On every hand 
See labors banners flying, 

From every height. 
Hear the voice of freedom crying 

Strike for the right. 

Chorua. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Gather Round the Polls, Boys. 

TUNE— BALLT BOUND THE FLAG. 

Now the time is near at baud 
When the tillers of the laud 

Must make the laws to rule a nation, 
For the men who so w and reap, 
Like an avalanche will sweep 

Up to the most exalted station. 

Chorus. 

Then nse up a portion of your leisure hours 

In reading to strengthen your own mentalpowers, 

While we gather round the polls, boys, 

Gather once again, 
Voting for only such as labor. 

With the future plain in view, 
There's a course you must pursue. 

Hasten to gather education, 
Which will fit you for a place 
With the foreniost in the race. 

To fill a more exalted station. 

Chorus. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Harken, Tryant. 

TUNE— GLORY, GLORY, HOW THE FBEEMEK gAN3. 

High upon tlie mountains, 

Low within the mine, 

Ever bright the lamps of labor shine; 

From the hills and valleys, 

From the rolling main, 

Comes the toilers' shout in glad refrain. 

Chorus. 

Harken, tryant, in your tower of gold, 

Trust and tyrany have lost their hold, 

We're a host of freemen 

Seeking not for spoil, 

But an honest share for honest toil. 

Long has labor suffered, 

Long endured the wrong, 

Hurled at her by fashions giddy throng; 

While the men of fortune 

Lolled in shady bowers, 

Treating lightly labor's growing powers. 

Chorus — Harken, tryant, etc. 



10 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Labor History. 

TUNE— AUTUMN. 

Gazing back with look of horror 

O'er the road which toil has passed, 
Freedom stands and with her sceptre 

Points to twenty centuries past, 
Yv'ith the heel of iron the tyrant 

Long has stood an labor's breast, 
Twenty centuries ere Columbus 

Braved the billow's foaming crest. 

But his ships have plowed the ocean 

To a land beyond the sea. 
Where from tyranny's commotion 

Labor sought herself to free, 
But the tyrant followed after, 

Syndicates in horrid form 
With rude shout and boistrous laughter 

Braved the ocean's wind and storm. 

Quick his miniona crossed the country. 

Traveling paths by labor made, 
Ever taking with efifrontry, 

Offers of an ax or spade, 
But the tyrant's rule is over, 

Freedoms heart is throbbing fast, 
Foul intent he cannot cover, 

AH his wiles are known at last. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 11 



Liberty's Sun. 

TUNE— HAIL TO THE CHIEF, 

Hail to the light o'er the horizon beaming 

Worthy devotion its ever bright ray, 
O may its halo upon labor streaming 
Herald the coming of libertys day. 
Blessed be thy golden ray 
Emblem of coming day, 

Bright ark of justice — sweet liberty's sun, 
may thy halo shed 
Over the toiler's head, 
Peace and contentment 'til mans race is run. 

Thou great eternal, in sweet heaven dwelling 

Labor's devotion extended to thee, 
In sweetest music is now upward swelling 
Seeking thy blessing on liberty's tree. 
Enduring every wrong 
Labor has suffered long, 

Craving assistance from eternal one, 
Truth with her streaming eyes 
Bent on the eastern skies. 
Watched for the rising of liberty's sun. 

Joy to the nation, let music enchanted 

O'er mountain and valley on soft zephyr swell. 
Sweet freedom's tree, by the laborer planted, 
Is growing in beauty by liberty's well. 
Long may it upward grow 
Deep in the soil below. 

May every rootlet in unison run ; 
While every limb and leaf. 
Beauty and strength receive 
From the bright rays of sweet liberty's sun. 



12 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Labor Problem. 

TUKB— COTTAGE OBE THE MOOB. 

The friends of right and liberty 

In unison have met. 
For freedom's sweet, but saddened face. 

With tears has long been wet; 
Been wet with tears of sorrow for 

Those men who sow the grain 
And scour the deck before the mast 

Upon life's rolling main. 

True some there are who doubting still 

Are yet outside the fold, 
And say we cannot break the ranks 

Thus fortified with gold; 
We know 'tis not a problem small 

Through which a child can see. 
Nor is the task before us all 

For those who bend the knee. 

Back from the task we have to do 

Well might have Hercules' slunk, 
Jvnd. from those less gigantic far 

Have mighty Statesmen shrunk, 
5ut many minds are working hard 

The problem deep to solve 
A.nd soon the wheels of justice true 

WilJ rapidly revolve. 

And those who work and till the soil 

That all mankind may live 
Shall honest recompense receive 

For every cent they give, 
And those whose coffers overflow 

With shylock's sordid gain, 
This lesson yet shall learn to know 

That laboring men have brain. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 13 



Labor's Tribute. 

TUNE— WEBB. 

Ye noble sons of labor 

And daiiglitcrs fair and true, 
Truth's bright and gleaming sabre. 

At last is drawn for .you. 
The minions of aggression — 

Monopoly and trust, 
Dread buhvarks of oppression 

We'll trample in the dust. 

Our father's met in l^attle 

Old England's proud array 
And mid the cannon's rattle 

Thej nobly won the day. 
They hurled the proud oppressor 

From off our very shore, 
And left their sons possessors 

To hold forever more. 

But now, a century later, 

The haughty British lord 
By effort even greater 

With gold instead of sword. 
Is gathering up each valley 

And riverside and plain. 
Oh ! sons of freedom, rally 

And drive him back again. 

The tillers of the soil, 

For many ages past 
Have bent the knee in toil 

Before the tryant's mast. 
Then rally round your standard 

And by your colors stand 
And paint upon your banner 

The equal rights of man. 



14 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Tillers of the Soil. 

TUNE— WATCHMAN, TELL US OF THE NIGHT. 

O ! ye tillers of the soil, 
Working early, late and fast, 

Robbed of fruit of lionest toil, 
Trodden down in ages past. 

While the power in you is vested 
By the franchise of your land, 

Yet your enemy is crested 
With the crown by your command. 

Are ye still content to labor ? 

Still content to plow your lands ? 
Looking to your crafty neighbor 

With his white and downy hands. 

For the laws to rule your action 
In your humble walk of life; 

Has your welfare no attraction 
In this gold and labor strife? 

When in war's dark cloud were drifted 
By the hand of fiend or fate, 

Quick your neighbor grand and gifted 
Calls on you to save the State. 

K amid the din of battle, 

Farmers have the nerve and brain 
When war's turbid waters settle, 

Why not farmers hold the rein. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 15 



A Bad Dream. 

TUNE— YANKEE DOODLE. 

I had a dream the other night 

When all around was quiet, 
Excepting that the neighbors' cats 

Had started up a riot. 
It seemed upon the capitol 

At Washington were standing, 
Myself and twenty other men 

Upon a narrow landing. 

Commanding all the land that lies 

In twenty miles around us, 
The sight that met our wondering eyes 

Was such as to astound us, 
The thoroughfare that led away 

From gilt and marble column 
Was crowded full in sad array. 

With statesmen looking solemn. 

A litter they among 'em bore 

Three bodies on it lying, 
'Twas plain that two had passed the door 

And 'tother one was dying, 
I asked a fellow by my side 

Twas plain he want a mourner, 
Who was it that had lately died 

Within the halls of honor. 

He answered that monopoly 
Now hovering near the borders^ 

Was dying of a malady 
They called the labor orders, 

The others— Trust and Syndicate 
Had held their last communion, 



16 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



And died that morning of disease 
Now known as Farmers Union. 



I heard an awful scream arise, 

Some sort of wail or other 
That seemed to rend the very skies, 

And then there came another 
And then a crash, I thought my soul, 

The capitol was falling, 
And through the glass a pair of cats, 

Came on my pillow sprawling. 




PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 17 



Hope. 

TUNE— HOME, SWEET HOME. 

Kind natui-e, the fountain of all earthly good, 
Upon every creature her blessing bestowed; 
While through life's dark pathway the laborers 

grope, 
She holds to their vision the bright star of hope. 

Chorus. 

Hope, hope, sweet, sweet hope, 

She holds to their vision the bright star of hope. 

The mines in the mountains, the field and the 

plain 
Kesound with the music of labor's refrain, 
Combining their efforts with gold they must cope 
Those two fond companions, sweet labor and 

hope. 

Chorus. 

Hope, hope, sweet, sweet hope, 
Those two fond companions, sweet labor and 
hope. 



18 PG CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 

Our Cause is Just and Right. 

TUNE— SWINGING IN THE LANE. 

A mighty host is marching on 

With banners bright and grand. 
They represent the laborers 

And tillers of the land; 
Their leaders truth and honesty 

Have got in perfect drill, 
A giant host of freemen from 

The factory, farm and mill. 

Chorus. 

Ye politicians well you know, 
Our cause is right and just, 

Your mighty throne we'll overthrow* 
And trample in the dust. 

Ye ragged host of hangers on 
"Who throng the halls of State, 

And like the foul hyena for 
The lion's leavings wait, 

You constitute a dirty throng 
Unworthy of a name. 

How dare you seek to fill the place 
Of honor and of fame. 



Chorus. 



'Tis plain to see, your early doom 

Is written on the page 
Of fate and honest prophecy. 

In this progressive age; 
We cannot doubt that some of you 

Are better fit to wait, 
Behind the bars of prison. 

Than within the halls of State. 



Chorus. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 19 



The Day Star of Freedom. 

TUNE— DASIE DEAN. 

Bright rays o'er tlie mountain, 

Like a pure golden fountain 
Streaming up fair and bright in the east, 

'Tis sweet freedoms token. 

The fetters are broken. 
And the era of darkness has ceased. 

Chorus. 

Thy rays are ever welcome. 

Thou gem of truth and right, 
Bright day star of freedom j-o true, 

Thy light sweetly streaming 

Upon labor beaming, 
Ever sweet sense of honor imbue. 

Our task often doubled. 

Our mind often troubled, 
Long time we have worked on the soil, 

Our white handed neighbor, 

The fruit of our labor. 
Like robber has taken as spoil. 

Chorus. 

The future is teeming 

With hope sweetly beaming 
For the laborer at factory and farm, 

And trust, horrid demon! 

So loathed by the freeman, 
la cowering back in alarm. 

Chorua. 



20 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Upward. 

TUNE — BONNIE DOON. 

The rainbow tints, the sun's bright ray. 
The shadows long at close of day, 
The wild flowers strewn in nature's bed. 
The lilies white and roses red, 
The twining vine, the forest shade, 
The gushing rill, with pebbles laid, 
Are prospects bright and vision rare, 
Which tillers of the soil may share. 

The soil was tilled in former age 
By those enrolled on slavery's page. 
No gleam of hope from year to year 
To light their pathway dark and drear, 
But now, a ray of hope at last 
Upon their pathway drear is cast, 
And though their task is much the same, 
Of slavery it has lost the name. 

And thus they toil and view by night 
The distant star of equal right, 
Where they with others of their kind 
Shall equal share of leisure find, 
And toiling upward day by day 
Though rocks and mire before them lay, 
Their tents each night, though torrents roar 
Pitched higher than the night before. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 21 



My Faith Looks to Thee. 

TUNE— NEW KAVEN. 

My faith looks up to thee, 
Thou toilers bold and free 

Thy day star glows, 
I know thy voting power, 
Which like the leaning tower 
Frowns at this present hour 

O'er all thy foes. 

Well hast thou suffered long, 
Enduring every wrong 

At trust's foul hand. 
The men who made thy laws 
Have heeded not thy cause, 
But tyranny shall pause 

At thy command. 

Proud syndicates shall fall 
And stagger to the wall 

Before thy host; 
Monopoly and trust 
You'll trample in the dust, 
Their shining spears shall rust. 

Their fame be lost. 



22 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Should Those who Labor be Forgot. 

TUNE— AULD LANG SYNE. 

Should those who labor be forgot 

In legislative liall. 
Cause honest toil lias been their lot, 

Their purses light and small; 
Should those we send to make our laws 

Ignore the weaker sail, 
While on their knees, they strife to please 

The monarch of the rail. 

Should manufacturers, rich and great, 

^Vhile wheat is sixty cents, 
Eeceive protection from the state, 

Their profits to enhance, 
Should men with twelve dollars per day, 

A higher salary seek, 
"While laboring men for eight or ten 

Are glad to work a week. 

We ask you should the scum of earth, 

Each pestilential thing, 
Be welcomed to our home and hearth 

To please the railroad king. 
Should Chinamen our soil pollute, 

All Italy be fed, 
While freedom's sons the gauntlet runs 

In honest search of bread. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 23 



Valiant and True. 

TTNE— MAECHIKG ALONG. 

Like tlie waves of the ocean 

That sweep o'er the main, 
Like the winds from the mountain, 

That scours o'er the plain, 
Labors' ranks now are moving 

At liberty's call, 
Trust and monopoly 

Must go to the wall. 

Chorus. 

Be ye valiant and true, 

Be ye valiant and true, 
Keeping the bright star 

Of hope well in view; 
The great constitution 

Will point out the way. 
By which if we're valiant 

We are sure of the day. 

Now ye knights of the anvil. 

The plow, or the spade, 
Be ye careful to follow 

The laws that are made, 
But if men now in Congress 

Your action to pen 
Should not represent you, 

Never send them again. 

Chorvs. 



24 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Spring to the Charge. 

TUNE— PULL FOE THE SHORE. 

Farmers and laboring classes champions of right, 
Tradesmen and toiling masses see yonder height 
"Where trust and syndicate in proud union hold 
Undisputed sovereignty in fortress of gold. 

Chorus: 

Spring to the charge, freeman. 

Spring to the charge, 

Let not monopoly her battery discharge 

Over the land for which our forefathers fought, 

And the homes where lessons first 

Of freedom were taught. 

See now in labor orders freeman enrolled. 
Swiftly the ranks of truth are filled with the bold, 
Armed with the franchise of the land of the free, 
See the hosts of freeman as they sweep to the sea. 

Chorus. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 25 



Labor Anthem. 

TUNE— HOLD THE FOBT. 

From Lake Huron's shining waters, 

Over hill and plain, 
To a nation's sons and daughters 

Conies the glad refrain. 



Chorus. 

'Tis the labor anthem ringing 
O'er the eastern slope, 

To the toiling millions bringing 
Liberty and hope. 

Swiftly move the mighty colnmn 

Toward the setting sun, 
While its branches gaining volume 

East and southward run. 



Chorus— 'Tis the labor, etc. 



Soon its ranks will cross the prairie 

By the zephyrs bore, 
To the peaks of high Sierra 

And Pacific shore. 



Chorus— 'Tifi the labor, etc. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Rally Round Your Banner. 

IDNE— OVEBBOAED SHE GOES MY BOYS WHERE SPABKLIN<» 
WATERS EOAB. 

"We're gathering round tlie Ship of State 

Farmers and laboring men, 
To fight the trusts and syndicates, 

And drive them to their den. 



Chorus. 

Tlien rally round your banner bright 

Ye toilers bold and true, 
Your children's future, hope and right. 

Is resting now on you. 

Eight well we know our cause is just, 

The franchise is our sword, 
Let not your brilliant armor rust. 

Nor act the knave or coward. 



Chorus — Then rally, etc. 

Bad men would warp our country's laws. 
And read them up side down 

And strive to crush the labor cause. 
With haughty jeer and frown. 

Chorus — Then rally, etc. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 27 



Justice. 

TUNE— FEOM GKEENLAND'S ICY MOUNTAINS. 

The balmy air is laden 

With toil's melodious strain, 
Each youth and blushing maiden 

Sings labor's sweet retrain. 
And labor's boatswain bawling, 

His orders bold and free. 
To action loudly calling 

The sons of liberty. 

To labor we are willing, 

But not that shylock's vault 
Our efforts should be filling, 

Our conciences revolt. 
Should honest people labor? 

Should farmers raise their grain? 
And their unblushing neighbor, 

The lawyer, take the gain? 

Consult your sense of honor, 

Should gross injustice.be 
Permitted 'neath our banner 

In land of liberty; 
If not, you have one resource, 

The franchise is your own 
Upon this human race course. 

Let justice sit enthroned. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Cood-Bye, 

TUNE— CORONATION. 

The hour has come to say good-bye, 
Good-bye, we're going home, 

In honest heart we're loth to part. 
But closing hour has come. 

In honest heart we're loth to part, 
But closing hour has come. 

Then sisters fair and brothers true 

Here met in labor's cause, 
We bid you all a kind adieu, 

And yield to nature's laws; 
We bid you all a kind adieu, 

And yield to nature's laws. 

We love to linger with our friends 
Within the halls of right, - 

But nature's powers in fleeting hours. 
Brings us to say good night. 

But nature's powers in fleeting hours, 
Brings us to say good night. 



PO CROSBTS LABOR ODES. 29 



Partin Ode. 



TUNE— OLD HUNDRED. 



Ye faithful friends, as now we part. 
Take honor's paths with honest heart, 

As bad men's deeds come to the light, 
Let their wrongs feed thy lamp of right. 

Great nature teaches us to know 

That human hearts while here below 
With selfishness are often fraught, ' 

But let sweet justice be thy thought. 

To evil thoughts bad men are prone. 
And strive to grasp what's not their owiu 

But their rash deeds and thoughts untrue 
From evil ne'er excuses you. ' 



30 PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 



Closing Ode. 

TUNE— SWEET BY AKD BY. 

Gentle friends, all your duties performed 
From the toils and the cares of the week, 

And from life's changing sunshine and storm, 
The sweet quiet of home let us seek. 



Chorus. 

To our homes now we go 

By the sweet silvery moon's mellow light 
And the stars softly glow 

While we bid you a pleasant good night. 

With our brothers and sisters to meet 
In the halls of the Patrons we love 

All the friends of the order to greet, 
But the hour bids us homeward to move. 



Chorus. 



Now may kind fortune's blessings expand, 
May each honest endeavor succeed. 

May each true Patron throughout the land 
Be rewarded for each honest deed. 



Choru8. 



PO CROSBY'S LABOR ODES. 31 



I N E) K X . 



A Bad Dream 15 

Closing Ode 30 

Gather Round the Polls 8 

Good Bye 28 

Hand in Hand 6 

Harken, Tyrant 9 

Hope 17 

Justice 27 

Labor Anthem 25 

Labor History 10 

Labor Problem 12 

Labor's Tribute 13 

Liberty's Sun 11 

My Faith Looks to Thee 21 

Opening Ode 5 

Our Cause is Just and Right 18 

Parting Ode 29 

Rally Round Your Banner 26 

Should Those Who Labor be Forgot 22 

Spring to the Charge. .. 24 

Strike for the Right 7 

The Day Star of Freedom 19 

Tillers of the Soil 14 

Upward 20 

Valiant and True 23 



LIBRARY OF_CONGRESS^ 



015 775 556 




